This rebranded resort is the latest addition to the new Garrya brand of contemporary wellbeing-centred hotels by the Banyan Tree Group. All the 82 suites and villas at Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui are set within lush gardens on a hillside overlooking a secluded bay. 

There’s plenty of food to be had in this property. Beachfront dining is offered at Fish Tales – there you can enjoy a casual lunch and dinner experience focused on local seafood dishes. Or get a table at Rhoy Rhoy! which serves unpretentious Thai cuisine topped with beautiful sea views. The health conscious can head to EVOL for its nutritionally-balanced and wholesome meals, including vegan options. A majority of the ingredients used come from the resort’s own garden and local farmers. You can also choose to customise your culinary experience – from a candlelit dinner on the beach to an in-villa BBQ served on the terrace, complete with a bespoke menu and a personal chef and service attendant. 

For some much-needed relaxation, the 8lements Spa is the place for you. Secluded spa cottages are each equipped with two massage beds, a separate treatment area for Thai massages, outdoor foot wash and relaxation area, herbal steam room and an open-air bathtub for floral or milk baths. And the adult-only Half Moon Pool, one of the resort’s two swimming pools, offers spectacular views of the bay. Digital nomads who need to catch up on work can head to the Co Working space – located within the lobby. Available 24 hours, it offers guests a communal place to work or mingle and connect with other guests. 

Beyond the resort, you can explore the local shops, food stalls, restaurants and bars at Fisherman’s Village and the nearby Chaweng Beach. The modern minimalist property opened in December 2022 is conveniently located 15 minutes by car from Samui International Airport.

Find out more: Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui

If you’re keen to stay in a new Bali property, consider the 205-room Ayana Segara Bali which opened in November 2022. The contemporary hotel is the fourth Ayana property within the integrated Ayana Estate luxury community at Jimbaran. The other three are Ayana Villas Bali, Ayana Resort Bali, and RIMBA by Ayana Bali. 

The rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as private balconies or terraces complete with daybeds for you to chill out and soak in the view. Each room comes with a living space, dining area and large walk-in wardrobe. Bathrooms are opulent with oversized bathtubs and rain showers. 

There are three stylish restaurants to dine at. The pool-side Karang is an all-day dining restaurant with an adjacent bar. Medi, offers a wide variety of Mediterranean-style fresh salads, pasta and seafood paired with Mediterranean white and red wines and exclusive wines from Italian and Spanish boutique vineyards. For the most spectacular sunset and farm-to-table experience, Luna offers contemporary dishes using fresh local ingredients available from Ayana Farm. Savour dishes such as salmon poke bowl sriracha and Indonesian favourites. These three new dining destinations along with the 19 existing venues, make up a total of 22 dining destinations within the Ayana Estate.  

Those who need to destress can visit Ayana Spa for various treatments from traditional Balinese massages and marine rituals to the Nakatsuji Method, created by Japanese professional osteopath and anti-aging expert Tadashi Nakatsuji exclusively for Ayana Spa. For a once-in-a-lifetime spa experience, guests can choose Ocean Rituals at Ayana’s Spa on The Rocks, a treatment villa perched above the rock formation along the coastline. The spa also offers pure Thalassotherapy (the therapeutic use of seawater and marine products) at  one of the world’s largest Aquatonic Seawater therapy pools. Otherwise, take a dip in the main pool, touted as largest indoor-outdoor pool in Bali, or enjoy the more intimate rooftop pool at Luna Rooftop Bar. 

Find out more: Ayana Segara Bali, Indonesia

This resort is located in the tranquil north-west part of Phuket just 15 minutes from the airport. Barely five minutes’ walk to the beautiful Mai Khao Beach, it is located opposite its sister resort Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Turtle Village shopping area.

This  family-friendly property boasts extensive facilities including a tennis court, swimming pool and jacuzzi, rock climbing wall, and also access to Anantara Spa at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.

Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket’s 70 spacious suites and pool suites come fully equipped with a kitchenette with large refrigerator, stove top and utensils, and laundry. There are different configurations to choose from. For instance, the one bedroom Sunset Suite has sweeping sunset view from the balcony – perfect for romantic Phuket getaways. The two bedroom Pool Suite offers outdoor sunbathing and indoor lounging, and a private pool surrounded by tropical flora. One of the biggest suites is the three bedroom Pool Suite with private pool, three ensuite bedrooms and a spacious living room. 

Dining-wise, there’s Aqua’s poolside dining and drinking, casual seafood shack Claws & Co,  as well as Chop Chop Asian Grill where you can also have craft beers. In the evenings, enjoy omakase sushi in the treetop dining room and linger over a glass of wine while enjoying the balmy weather.

Find out more: Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites

This brand new resort is located in southern Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, an easy commute from Ho Chi Minh City. Meaning “sheltered peninsula”, Mui Ne is considered Southeast Asian windsurfing mecca thanks to its excellent weather and wind conditions.

The beachfront resort is officially opening on January 11. Its interiors are inspired by Vietnam’s bygone Indochine-era with architecture guided by Hanoi’s grand old French villas. The design also pays homage to craftsmanship, melding Vietnamese and Indochine artisanal elements with indigenous materials.

Making an amazing first impression is the lobby which leads you to the infinity pool and the ocean beyond. Overlooking Mui Ne’s white sand beach, the hotel has 127 elegant rooms and suites. The Premium Ocean View Room features French doors and balcony where you can soak in the sea views. Or if you need more spacious accommodation, book the Private Pool Suite which opens onto a terrace with sun loungers and a private pool.

The resort’s world-class facilities include a spa with five-treatment rooms, saunas and indoor jacuzzis, two swimming pools (one freshwater and another saltwater), and a water sports center. Wake up early and join the dedicated yogi for complimentary group classes in the yoga room.

For meal times, make your way to The Indochine, an all-day dining restaurant and grill with show kitchens. Or savour ethnic Vietnamese cuisine at Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar. If you like to learn the art of traditional Vietnamese cuisine join the step-by-step cooking class which includes a morning market visit.

Find out more: The Anam Mui Ne

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